Singleton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Village Hall, Singleton
on Thursday 19 August 2021 at 7.15 pm
Present: – Cllrs Gallagher (Chair), Bailey (Vice Chair), Cholmondeley, and Ibbotson. Also attending were Andy Pratt MBE, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, 2 PCSOs and the Parish Clerk Verena Henderson, who took the Minutes.
| 1. | Apologies for Absence – Cllr Lee. |
| 2. | Police Matters Andy Pratt MBE and the two PCSOs were welcomed to the meeting. This was the first occasion the PCSOs had been able to attend since the beginning of the COVID restrictions. PCSO Lauren Vallely had previously circulated the crime figures for July which showed 2 reported cases of Anti-Social Behaviour – 1 of cycling on the footpath and 1 of malicious communications; and 2 cases of Theft and Handling – 1 of driving off from a petrol station without paying for fuel and 1 of theft of a purse from a handbag at the victim’s employment. The Parish Council was particularly pleased to see that after a long time of hearing complaints that action was being taken against cycling on footpaths. The meeting was told that there is currently an initiative in St. Annes targeting cycling on pavements and that the Parish Council should contact Sgt. Proctor to request a similar initiative in this parish. Six new officers were to be deployed in Fylde and these would be arriving between 1st September and 1st October 2021. Andy Pratt MBE told the meeting that he had been a Police Officer for 28 years and was looking forward to working as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner alongside Andrew Snowden. He went on to say that he wanted different Police departments to work together and talk to each other so that such information could be passed between them. In his new role, one of his priorities was road safety across the county. Parish Councillors asked for his support in retaining the 20mph speed limit through the village, which the Police were not currently supporting. The Parish Council had data logged from its Speed Indicator Devices which showed that since the 20mph limit was made the average speed of traffic through the village had dropped quite substantially and therefore the 20mph limit was proving positive. Mr Pratt said that he would support the retention of the 20mph limit. The Police and Crime Commissioner is currently conducting a public survey on line asking for views about police and crime priorities across Lancashire to help inform a new Police and Crime Plan. There is a great willingness to work with parish councils, organisations and the community. This survey will close on Monday 6 September 2021. Mr Pratt would also like to see some of the local Police Stations reopened and used like they had been in the past. The Parish Council would publicise the survey on Singleton Chat and on the website to encourage members of the public to complete it. Andy Pratt MBE and the 2 PCSOs were thanked for attending the meeting and left. |
| 3. | Minutes of Previous Meeting and any Matters Arising The Minutes from the meeting held on 24th June 2021 and the notes from the informal meeting held on 20 July 2021 were signed as true and correct records with no matters arising. |
| 4. | Open Forum – None |
| 5. | Declaration of Interests – None |
| 6. | Planning Matters and Decisions Three planning applications had been received for Singleton Grange Farm, Grange Road – 21/0657, 21/0651 and 21/0777. These were for erection of an agricultural livestock building, 28 stables with associated storage and the erection of a canopy over existing open midden. The Parish Council had no specific observations to make on these proposals.21/0680 – The Manor Barn, Mains Hall, 86 Mains Lane, Singleton FY6 7LE – Listed building consent for external alterations to dwellinghouse – The Parish Council objected to the change of character of the building and would like consideration to be given to its listed building status. Notification received an appeal hearing in respect of 20/0439 – Stanley Villa Farm Fishing and Camping, Back Lane, Weeton – which would be held in person on 15/09/21. Decisions 21/0532 – Rosebank, 13 Mains Lane FY6 7LF – Granted 21/0366 – Fairview, 71 Mains Lane, FY6 7LD – Granted |
| 7. | Traffic and Highway Issues Cllr Singleton was thanked for his informative monthly reports which he circulates prior to the Parish Council meetings concerning highway issues in the parish. These had been very well received and gave updates on current works including overdue repairs of potholes, temporary traffic lights on Lodge Lane, narrow lanes for utility works on Mains Lane and the current debate on the 20mph speed limit through the village. Cllr Singleton had also asked Highways to check on the timings of the Singleton traffic lights after two near-miss accidents recently. This report is on file. |
| 8. | New By-Pass Cllr Bailey had recently been visited by Dave Whitelow of Kier regarding the progress of the new by-pass. Kier are producing another leaflet which will have a map of what is happening, in particular in regards to Lodge Lane. Residents are rather concerned that they will not be able to use the road for several months and want to know how this will affect them. It is still not clear as to exactly what is happening to the proposed underpass. A fortnightly roadworks update had been received from Kier for 23 August – 5 September 2021 and circulated. |
| 9. | Correspondence Information received regarding the Fylde ARG Shopfront Grant Scheme which will contribute to the post-pandemic recovery of high streets in Fylde.The next District Parish Liaison Meeting will take place on Monday 20 September at Wrea Green.Letter from Fylde BC received regarding 15 trees being offered to 15 parish councils to plant in their local area. These shall be requested to replace the ones stolen from Lodge Lane a few years ago.Information received about a vaccination van and tents being at 2 locations in Fylde on 23rd and 27th August 2021. This information has been put on Singleton Chat and the website. |
| 10. | Update from Fylde Borough Council Fylde BC is consulting on the Partial Review of its Local Plan to 2031 – Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications. The consultation period will be from Thursday 29 July to Thursday 9 September 2021. |
| 11. | Public Footpaths After consideration the Parish Council decided not to pursue this scheme organised by LCC which was offering an annual grant of £500 for local councils/organisations to look after public rights of way in their community. This would include vegetation clearance, signposts, waymarks, steps and gates. |
| 12. | Feedback from the Defibrillator Training This had been extremely successful and the Parish Council was very grateful to Peter Bond of North West Ambulance Service for conducting 2 sessions. A total of 26 people attended over the 2 nights. Cllr Ibbotson had provided refreshments and had also gained pre-agreement from all councillors to buy Mr Bond a bottle of wine as a thank-you. Cllr Gallagher proposed that the Parish Council donated £100 to the North West Ambulance Service this was seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed. A company has offered to pay half towards a new defibrillator to be sited in Little Singleton. Cllr Gallagher will approach another company which has helped in the past to see if they could make a contribution as well. The Parish Council would make up any difference. |
| 13. | Accounts and Invoices to Pay The Clerk was very pleased to say that on-line banking had at last been put in place and was working fine. The following payments were agreed:- Clerk – Salary and expenses for July/August – £256.87. Proposed Cllr Gallagher, Seconded Cllr Bailey. Agreed. Clerk – Reimbursement for purchase of bottle of whisky as a thank-you for auditor – £27.50. Proposed Cllr Bailey, Seconded Cllr Gallagher. Agreed. Cllr Ibbotson – Reimbursement for expenses re defibrillator training – £24.23 – Proposed Cllr Gallagher, Seconded Cllr Cholmondeley. Agreed. Cheque to North West Ambulance Service for £100 – Proposed Cllr Gallagher, Seconded Cllr Bailey. Agreed. |
| 14. | Any Other Business Problems reported of otters being disturbed by roadworks at Skippool, scattering and eating the fish in local garden ponds. It would seem that this is a recurring problem and they seem to concentrate on an area for a length of time until all the fish are gone. People are advised not to restock their fish for a period of 3 years as the otters will keep visiting if any fish are still there.Cllr Singleton will be contacting Cllr Lee regarding the Community Pay-Back scheme as this is now available once again. They could come out for a period of time to do jobs in Weeton and Singleton. It was suggested that perhaps they could clear the footpath which is in a bad state of repair from Mile Road to Church Road. |
| 15 | Date and Time of next meeting The next meeting will be the Annual Parish Meeting, followed by the monthly meeting, and will be held at the Village Hall on Thursday 23 September 2021 as follows:- 7.00pm – Annual Parish Meeting 7.30pm – Monthly meeting. As there was no further business, the meeting closed at 8.30pm. |
Signed …………………………………………… Dated ………………………………………
Verena Henderson
Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01995 670455